Postives:
1) Top of the group with decent GD.
2) Christensen is learning his trade.
3) We didn't lose.
4) Morata 90 mins.
Negatives:
1) Conte's body language*
2) Luiz injury
3) Bakayoko / Fabregas woeful imo
4) Rumours of a rift. Again.
*I'm probably reading too much into it.
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I don't think conte celebrated any of our goals last night?
Baka and fabregas doesn't work in CM.
Rudiger needs to play more.
Willian and Azpi are terribly out of form.
Kante is a huge miss.
Big few weeks ahead, fearing the worst for Conte.
After the first goal the camera panned to him and he punched the air and turned to the bench. I'm probably reading too much into it, but he wasn't animated at all.
In his pre-match interview with BT in the tunnel when asked about Luiz in mid, he snapped: "I have to, we only have 2 fit midfielders."
Afterwards, in the post-match interview, he fell for Jose's bait as well. Not good signs but I'm probably over analysing.
We're champions of England and turning in some very poor shows. Conte isn't jumping into the crowd like last season because it's no longer the crest of a wave he rides, imo. I won't confuse that with unhappiness, just a man who is focussed on having to jump the biggest hurdle he has faced at SB. He has openly said he's staying, that's good enough for me tbh.
Cesc needs Kante, the team need Kante and without him we look like the team that failed to retain the title 2 years ago and Leicester since Kante left them. Drinkwater is as close to cover as we have and we know Conte hasn't had that option. Kante is a massive loss, Barca without Messi, Spurs without Kane etc. Sometimes you just can't plug a hole.
I'm not down about last night...a draw is good enough to keep us in command of the group. Roma looked like the win chasing team last night and fully deserved at least a point. We will be much better in Rome where we will win. Roma's defence is weak and can be easily exploited if we learn from last nights game.
No panic from me, my expectations have already been lowered for this season. It''s a season when the penny drops in the boardroom.
I agree with all of that. Kante is the bridge between defence and attack, he literally affects how every part of our team functions.
We need to hang on in there or thereabouts until he comes back.
I would also add Azpi looks knackered. Kolarov beat him easily last night for the 1st and he looked very fatigued.
Rudiger for cahill would be the long term switch I make.
"Rudiger for cahill"
We have tweak problems imo. Employ a balance between the short defensive play and the punt. We're adding self inflicted pressure by playing short from Courtois all the time. If you do stick with the short ball, use staff that can execute the plan. Cahill is many great things but a quick footed mobile player he is not. Play to his strengths not his weaknesses. I see the same with Michy, getting loads of abuse and some say it's justified - I don't. Learn his strenths and weaknesses. Absolutely no good attempting to play through Michy down the centre - get down his flanks and serve him from there, that is where he has his strength. He's not the all round striker we want strikers to be so why expect something beyond him! Playing to weaknesses is a complete nonsense to me. Another nonsense, expecting Fabregas to be part of the defensive unit! We're stuttering along but I see small tweaks that could be form changing.
Saw a headline today "Chelsea in ruins after Roma draw"....
We have to remember it's not long ago we put in one of the best performances I've seen in years away at Atletico, with our best 11 on the pitch I fancy us to give everyone a game.
Laughable really mate.
Plenty more good stuff to come from us along the way ![[shades]](../images/smilies/sunnies.gif)
" I see the same with Michy, getting loads of abuse and some say it's justified - I don't. Learn his strenths and weaknesses. Absolutely no good attempting to play through Michy down the centre - get down his flanks and serve him from there, that is where he has his strength. He's not the all round striker we want strikers to be so why expect something beyond him! Playing to weaknesses is a complete nonsense to me"
Today was a good example of how and when to play Michy imo. Due to the nature of the game we needed to support Michy and he loved having company and decent service into the box. He looked a real menace. Our patient build up to an isolated forward will never suit him. When the conditions are right (like today) he can be a real asset.